Apu Biswas, once active in election campaigns for the Awami League, was recently seen at a BNP stage supporting the party. The actress attended the anniversary event of the BNP in Khoksa, Kushtia, at the invitation of former Khoksa Municipal BNP organizational secretary Ripon Hossain.

Actor Nirab Hossain also joined the program. On stage, Apu Biswas expressed her appreciation: “I am from Bogura. I have visited Rajbari before, but never Khoksa. I thank my dear elder brother Ripon Bhai for bringing me here. Ripon Bhai is committed to serving you, and I hope you will give him the opportunity. I believe there is no greater person than someone who values your trust. I hope your support helps him achieve his goals, and that you continue to support Bengali cinema as well.”

It is worth noting that during the Awami League government, Apu Biswas had sought nomination for a reserved seat.

An elderly woman in West Khujihura village of Durgapur, Netrokona, has been handed the keys to a newly built semi-pucca house, gifted on behalf of BNP leader Tarique Rahman.

The house was constructed under the direction of Barrister Kaiser Kamal after Rahman learned of Sukuri Begum’s plight of living without shelter. The project was completed and formally handed over by local BNP leaders.

The CID has filed a money laundering case against former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, alleging that he laundered Tk 1,200 crore to the UAE, purchasing 226 flats in Dubai.

Investigators revealed the flats are worth over 335 million dirhams, alongside two properties under his wife Rukmila Zaman’s name worth 2.25 million dirhams. Authorities also traced four bank accounts linked to the couple, with transactions totaling over Tk 311 crore.

According to CID, the funds were funneled through various business ventures, in violation of Bangladesh’s Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (Amendment 2015).

The Johor Immigration Department in Malaysia conducted a large-scale operation on Wednesday, detaining a total of 94 undocumented immigrants, including 34 Bangladeshis.

Director Datuk Mohammad confirmed that officials from the Enforcement Division Action Unit and EKPAS participated in the raid. Among those arrested were 38 Bangladeshi men, 15 Indonesian men, 12 Myanmar men, six Pakistani men, four Indian men, two Vietnamese men, one Nepali man, one Thai man, 10 Myanmar women, and five Indonesian women, aged between 18 and 61.

The detainees have been sent to the Setia Tropicana Immigration Depot for further investigation. Employers have been sternly warned against providing shelter or employment to illegal immigrants.

The UK government is set to ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under 16, covering purchases in shops, restaurants, cafés, vending machines, and online. About one-third of British children currently consume these beverages, though most supermarkets have already restricted sales. Health and Social Care Minister Wes Streeting said parents, teachers, and children had urged the government to act, prompting this legislation aimed at protecting young people from potential health risks linked to energy drinks.

Nine export-oriented industrial organizations, led by the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), have raised concerns over a proposed labor law amendment allowing unions with just 20 workers. They argue the measure ignores industrial realities, risks workplace stability, and could undermine investor confidence. The organizations warn that it may empower external interest groups and create disorder in factories, ultimately harming both workers and employers. They urge the government and international partners to ensure reforms are realistic, balanced, and consultative.

The Election Commission has made it easier for citizens to replace lost National Identity Cards (NID). Previously, filing a General Diary (GD) at a police station was mandatory to obtain a new card, causing delays and inconvenience. Now, the process has been simplified, and citizens can reissue their NID without visiting the police. ASM Humayun Kabir Banik, DG of the National Identity Registration Subdivision, confirmed the decision, emphasizing that it will significantly reduce hardship and save time and effort for citizens.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar announced that false and fabricated cases filed by police and factory management against 48,000 workers and trade union leaders have been officially withdrawn. “If this government is not worker- and poor-friendly, then who will be?” Majumdar questioned.

He emphasized his long-term observation of Bangladesh’s labor issues, particularly in the ready-made garment sector. Highlighting the harsh realities in many factories, he described how workers were often treated like modern-day slaves. Although structural improvements were introduced following the Rana Plaza tragedy due to Western-backed platforms like the Accord and Alliance, the working conditions for laborers remained largely unchanged.

Majumdar criticized the prevalence of minimal wages, extended working hours, and lack of legal protections, which continue to make life extremely difficult for workers. In many factories, pseudo “PC Committees” influenced by owners have replaced genuine trade unions, undermining workers’ rights. While these committees helped owners present their factories as “compliant” to buyers, they also opened doors to labor exploitation.

As a result, workers’ demands for fair wages were brutally suppressed, with thousands facing dismissals, intimidation, and legal harassment. Majumdar noted that the government has prioritized ending these practices and advancing comprehensive labor sector reforms.

Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman criticized the tendency of politicians to seek medical treatment abroad, saying it erodes public trust in Bangladesh’s healthcare system. Speaking at a free medical camp at Manipur School and College ground, he stressed that ordinary citizens, who cannot afford treatment overseas, rely on domestic healthcare.

“Where ordinary people cannot go abroad for treatment, how can I?” he said, emphasizing his confidence in Bangladesh’s medical facilities. Dr. Rahman urged politicians to receive care domestically to strengthen public faith in national healthcare and called on citizens to make informed decisions for a fearless, humane, independent, and sovereign nation.

BNP leader Zainul Abedin Faruk has warned that anyone attempting to sabotage the elections through collusion with the ruling Awami League will be firmly resisted. Faruk stated that conspiracies are still underway, alleging that there are ongoing attempts, allegedly instigated from Delhi, to derail the electoral process through various schemes.

Addressing Jamaat-e-Islami, he urged the party to seek forgiveness from the public for past mistakes and to abandon demands such as proportional representation, nationwide referendums, or boycotting the elections.

Faruk expressed confidence that if citizens are allowed to vote freely, the BNP would secure a decisive victory.

The police have submitted chargesheets to the court in three cases related to the deaths of three students during the popular uprising. The cases name 208 individuals as accused, including senior leaders of the Awami League, former ministers and MPs, and government officials.

After nearly a year of investigation, the chargesheets were filed:

In one case, filed by Shahid Nabi Nur Morol’s wife Akleema Begum on September 4 last year, additional accused were identified during the investigation.

Another case, filed in Ashulia by Shahid Mamun Khandakar’s wife, originally listed 33 accused, with 19 more added later.

In the third case, filed by the father of Shahid Ramzan Ali, 49 individuals were charged following the investigation, although 60 names were initially listed.

Seven students at Barishal University have been on a continuous hunger strike since Thursday night, demanding improvements in campus infrastructure and other issues. In a remarkable gesture of solidarity, Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Tawfiq Alam spent the night alongside the students.

At around 1 a.m., the VC joined the students, setting up a mosquito net beside them. Earlier, he reassured the students that the administration was working at full capacity to meet their reasonable demands, promising progress within a week. However, the students vowed to continue their strike until their demands are fully addressed.

The protest involves requests for infrastructural expansion, campus area enlargement, and improved transportation for the 50-acre campus. Earlier on Thursday, the students also blocked the Barishal-Kuakata highway to press their demands. The university proctor noted that land acquisition and other development initiatives are ongoing, but a lack of trust has pushed students to resort to a hunger strike.

Former Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al Mamun, in a statement given after interrogation, admitted to lapses in duty but denied obeying any illegal government directives. He confirmed that he has not resigned from his post and said he never exploited his position for personal benefit.

Mamun also refuted claims that he attended informal meetings at Khan Kamal’s residence, stating such gatherings often violated the chain of command. While acknowledging lapses in duty, he emphasized that police action should correspond to the severity of incidents, and peaceful protestors should never be harmed.

Addressing rumors about directives to use lethal weapons, helicopters, or drones during the July unrest, Mamun clarified that he never received any written orders to do so, though he admitted involvement in crimes committed during that period.

NCP Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain has paid tribute to student activist Qader, recalling his fearless role in campus politics.

In a statement, he wrote: “During the 2022 commemoration of Abrar Fahad, Chhatra League attacked us. Even as I was injured and taken to Dhaka Medical, Qader gave me courage. He dreamed of ending oppression and overthrowing Hasina’s rule.”

Akhtar noted that while many students chose silence for safety, Qader consistently stood up against threats:
"Last year, when eight demands were introduced to weaken the movement, Qader boldly declared nine demands, which paved the way for the one-point movement. After the victory of August 5, he embraced the entire campus."

He added that Qader once considered running for VP in 2019 and is now contesting in the upcoming 2025 DUSU election:
"May Allah bless him—my prayers are with Qader."

Mahin Sarkar has officially withdrawn his candidacy for the General Secretary (GS) position in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections. He has expressed his support for Abu Bakar Majumdar, the candidate backed by Bager.

Speaking at a press conference, former NCP leader Mahin Sarkar emphasized the need for unity among forces advocating for popular uprisings. “If a frontline leader of the uprising is elected to DUCSU, they will bear greater responsibility than anyone else,” he stated. “Abu Bakar Majumdar is a key leader of the movement. If he wins, it will be my victory as well. I fully support him.”

Sarkar had initially contested the GS post as part of an independent panel. Hours after his announcement, the NCP expelled him from the party.